St Andrews Park

This morning there were still around 30 Redwings in the park, with some sub-song heard - a beautiful sound. Also about 20 Goldfinches, 3 Coal Tits, a few Blue Tits, a Mistle Thrush and 2 Jays. A pair of Magpies were refurbishing their nest. Lots of Crocuses in flower, and nearby in Grenville Road some Bitter-cress in flower - probably either Wavy or Hairy.

Bitter-cress

Crocuses

Magpie nest

At the top of St Andrews Road a little Prunus blossom cheered up the scene.

Prunus blossom

Lesser Celandine!

At last! Spring has sprung - a couple of Lesser Celandines in flower in Montpelier Park this morning.

Lesser Celandine

Blackcap sub-singing!

A Blackcap was sub-singing at the station this morning - tuning up for the spring!

Goldcrest!

A Goldcrest was showing well this morning in trees near the tunnel at the station. Seems a good winter for Britain's smallest bird in Montpelier!

Blackbirds are now singing at dusk, mainly around the Bath Buildings area.

Montpelier Park

This morning the sun actually shone and there was quite a bit of common bird activity to enjoy in the park. A male Blackcap and a Goldcrest were the highlights with a supporting cast of singing Wren, Robin and Dunnock, a few Collared Doves and Woodpigeons, Blue and Great Tits and a fly-over Chaffinch.

Blackcap

Notable plants included Hart's Tongue Fern on the wall near the lower entrance and a few Annual Mercury plants in flower.

Hart's Tongue Fern

Annual Mercury

Avon Winter Bird Survey!

I did the second of two visits for the Avon Winter Bird Survey in Montpelier/St Pauls/St Andrews this morning. The totals were as follows:

Black-headed Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3
Herring Gull 4
Feral Pigeon 23
Woodpigeon 13
Collared Dove 6
Magpie 10
Jay 1
Carrion Crow 6
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 1
Wren 1
Starling 3
Blackbird 3
Redwing 13
Robin 4
House Sparrow 27
Chaffinch 4
Goldfinch 3

At the station the pair of Blackcaps showed well near the feeders.

Blackcap (sadly facing the wrong way)

St Andrews Park

A quick walk round the park in bitterly cold and grey conditions produce a pair of Mistle Thrushes - the first I've seen for a few months and presumably returned to nest? Also 30+ Redwings, 40 Starlings, 1 or 2 Pied Wagtails, 10+ Goldfinches and a couple of Chaffinches.

Redwing and Mistle Thrush

Sparrowhawk!

A Sparrowhawk circled over the station this morning and reappeared a few minutes later, enabling me to take a superb close-up shot!

St Andrews Park

This morning in the park a good count of 30 Redwings and 50 Starlings. Also 3 Pied Wagtails, a few Chaffinches and several Goldfinches. The Crocuses were almost in flower!

Crocuses

Redwing

Song Thrushes!

Two Song Thrushes singing in the Narroways area today - one near Ashley Hill and the other at Boiling Wells. Also at the latter location 4 Robins feeding together in apparent harmony - unusual!